Ron Deal

Ghosts from the past can create intimacy wedges in remarriage. Learning to recognize your ghosts and manage them is one path to increase your marital confidence and intimacy.

Understanding the challenges of stepfamily living can help you make an informed decision about remarriage.

Ron Deal describes some of the unique challenges that couples experience through remarriage and the formation of a stepfamily. He discusses the importance of drawing a “family map,” to identify the complex web of relationships with kids, stepkids, ex-spouses and their partners, and extended family. (Part 2 of 2)

Ron Deal describes some of the unique challenges that couples experience through remarriage and the formation of a stepfamily. He discusses the importance of drawing a “family map,” to identify the complex web of relationships with kids, stepkids, ex-spouses and their partners, and extended family. (Part 1 of 2)

Blended family marriages face unique stressors that can affect a couple’s sexual relationship. Here are five sexual pitfalls to avoid.

Author and speaker Ron Deal offers couples in blended families advice on how they can assess the strengths of their marriage and improve on areas of weakness in light of the particular challenges they face in parenting stepchildren. (Part 2 of 2)

Author and speaker Ron Deal offers couples in blended families advice on how they can assess the strengths of their marriage and improve on areas of weakness in light of the particular challenges they face in parenting stepchildren. (Part 1 of 2)

Consider the following ways to partner with your spouse and prioritize marriage in a blended family.

Dr. Gary Chapman and Ron Deal explore the unique challenges blended families face and offer practical advice for cultivating healthy, loving relationships. Topics include navigating your role as a stepparent, helping stepsiblings get along well, connecting with adult stepchildren, and more. (Part 2 of 2)

Dr. Gary Chapman and Ron Deal explore the unique challenges blended families face and offer practical advice for cultivating healthy, loving relationships. Topics include navigating your role as a stepparent, helping stepsiblings get along well, connecting with adult stepchildren, and more. (Part 1 of 2)

Every couple needs to talk about their values related to money and how they will create a shared vision for combining incomes and debt while planning for the future care of their children.

Marriage conflict often involves more than simply an issue over which the couple disagrees. How the couple interacts and the negative feelings experienced by each person also affect communication.

Parents who are in a second marriage often have to make difficult choices. But they can’t afford to let their fear of what an ex might do overrun their commitment to their current marriage.

Most remarried couples can beat the odds of divorce and build a successful blended family if they know how to overcome the unique barriers to marital intimacy in a blended family.

Tips for blending stepfamilies.

Parents can and should try to safeguard their children from the influence of the world, but when the “world” is the other household, parents face a difficult challenge.

We have a great relationship, but ever since his father remarried, his stepmom has started putting these thoughts in his head about me.

Unrealistic expectations create disillusionment when your hopes are not realized. Realistic expectations for your blended family give much need perspective and guidance for a fulfilling family experience.

God intended sexuality to be a wonderful gift for married couples. Remarriage presents some unique barriers to sexual intimacy, but each of them can be overcome.

In the business of life, couples in blended families often stop connecting through shared leisure time. They simply spend their time on other things. But, wise remarried couples recognize the importance of leisure, and they maximize their fun-factor.

Teens with a stepmom or stepdad need help learning how to manage the emotions surrounding a new stepfamily and how to adjust to having a stepparent and stepsiblings.

How to discover your place in your stepchild’s life.

Many people assume that stepparenting is the sole responsibility of the stepparent. On the contrary, it is a two-person task.

Contrary to what you may think, stepparenting is a two-person task. Learn how both parents can positively shape their stepfamily’s future while also cultivating their present too.